Friends rally in Los Angeles fires
A Meeting in Los Angeles is supporting those affected by the wildfires
A Los Angeles Meeting is supporting people as wildfires devastate large parts of the county.
Orange Grove Meeting is based close to the Eaton fire in Los Angeles which raged in the Altadena/ Pasadena area. The two largest fires, Eaton and Palisades, were still burning last Friday, after more than a week. As the Friend went to press, wind speeds were predicted this week of thirty to fifty miles per hour. Earlier this month, wind speeds in the county were recorded as high as 100 miles per hour, stoking the blazes.
Robin DuRant, clerk of Pacific Yearly Meeting and member of Orange Grove Meeting (OGM), told the Friend. ‘Several of our members and attenders lost their homes in the fire. Others are barred from returning home due to water toxicity and utility services. We are reaching out to each other, sharing both what our needs are and what assistance is available.’
The Meeting passed a minute on 12 January approving accepting donations for those affected. In an email sent to concerned Friends, Jane Krause, treasurer of OGM, said: ‘Orange Grove Friends Meetinghouse survived the fire, but we are now trying to see how to be helpful to those who are impacted… others still do not know yet if they have a home. Everyone at OGM knows someone who has been impacted.’
One Friend wrote on social media that he had heard from a member of the Meeting who was waiting in the building as they had lost their house: ‘It’s certainly smoky here… five that I know of so far [have] lost their homes, all in Altadena. We’re pulling together wonderfully.’
The local Friends also asked for help in setting up ‘a phone tree’, to see ‘where everyone is, what everyone’s needs are’. As well as donations, ‘cards/letters of support would be greatly appreciated’.
Friends Committee for National Legislation (FCNL) said that it was ‘heartbroken’ about the fires, and sent love and light to all those impacted.
For details on how to send donations, email: treasurer@ogmm.org.
